Exclusive | 

Restaurant boss who attacked kitchen porter was involved in infamous triad battle

Stephen Shum is no stranger to violence in the restaurant industry.

Today at 09:32

A restaurant owner convicted this week for repeatedly slapping his employee in the face was once involved in an infamous Triad battle in Dublin where two men were butchered to death and his brother was shot in the head.

Stephen Shum (74) was convicted for attacking a kitchen porter who he grabbed before slapping him “numerous” times in Dublin District Court.

However, Shum is no stranger to violence in the restaurant industry.

He was previously caught up in a shocking incident when two rival groups armed with meat cleavers, kitchen knives and a firearm engaged in bloody battle outside the New Universal restaurant on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin in July 1979.

Shum wasn’t happy when the Sunday World approached him for comment this week and angrily demanded to know: “What are you doing here? It’s finished”, before trying to follow our reporter who had asked him about his recent court case.

However, the assault incident pales in comparison to the battle Shum was caught up in on Middle Abbey Street in 1979.

During the infamous melee, Tony Lee, a Cork businessman and restaurant owner who was allegedly a big boss in the 14K Triad gang, had his throat slit in the battle and later died in hospital.

Another man, Michael Tsim, was found stabbed to death in a nearby doorway, while Stephen Shum’s brother, Ricky, was shot in the head leaving him blinded.

Reporter Liam Collins who covered the incident at the time said a detective told him that they found numerous severed fingers at the scene and didn’t know who they belonged to.

Stephen Shum, also known as Pok Sun Shum, was caught up in the melee and was charged with affray, before the State issued a deportation order against him. There is no suggestion he was involved in either of the killings.

Shum, who was born in China before moving to Hong Kong at a young age and then emigrating to England and eventually Ireland in the late 1970s, successfully appealed the deportation order in a landmark Supreme Court case.

He brought the case on the basis that he married an Irish woman in 1979 and had children with her here.

A trial in relation to the Abbey Street bloodbath heard allegations that the battle came three months after a problem had arisen around Chinese restaurant the Bamboo House in Dublin’s Dorset Street.

It was alleged in court that Stephen Shum, who worked as a chef in the New Universal restaurant, “started a campaign to close the Bamboo House”, harassed staff and attempted to enforce a protection racket on the premises.

He denied the allegations.

As a result of the dispute, it was claimed Shum’s brother Ricky discussed the incident with Tony Lee – who was claimed to be a “big man” in the 14K Triad group – in the hope of settling the row.

Ricky thought the dispute had been resolved but Lee and a group came up from Cork, along with people from Hong Kong and China, on July 17 and had a sit-down meeting in the New Universal with people linked to the Shum brothers.

The Shum brothers and an associate, Michael Tsim, then arrived at the restaurant and a confrontation broke out, spilling out onto the street in chaotic scenes involving an array of deadly weapons.

A court heard how Stephen and Ricky Shum were seen fighting with Tony Lee before one of Lee’s associates, Tsoi Foh Sing, picked up a rifle and shot at Ricky.

By the end of the battle, Michael Tsim had been stabbed to death, while Tony Lee had his throat slit and later died. Ricky Shum was shot in the head with a rifle. While he survived, he was left blinded for life. Many others were left with serious injuries.

Tsoi Foh Sing was charged with the murder of Tsim and the attempted murder of Ricky Shum but was acquitted by a jury.

Stephen Shum was issued with a deportation order due to his involvement in the incident but later successfully appealed that decision in the Supreme Court and eventually had seven children here.

He continued his involvement in the restaurant industry running several Chinese restaurants in various parts of the city.

Shum, from Coolmine Court, Clonsilla, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court earlier this month where Judge David McHugh put him on a one-year peace bond after he paid €500 in compensation.

On January 30, he attacked a kitchen porter grabbing him by the arms before slapping him “numerous” times in the face at Minori Sushi and Noodle Box in Weatherwell Industrial Estate in Clondalkin, Dublin, after claiming the worker was cutting chicken when he shouldn’t have been.

The victim attended A&E after the attack with injuries to his face and ringing in his ear.

The Sunday World approached Shum for comment on the case last week, but he wasn’t happy with being questioned.

After our reporter identified himself and asked Shum if he would comment on attacking his employee, he said: “Who are you?”

Our reporter again identified himself and Shum, who was angry, said: “For what? For what? What do you mean, what do you mean? What are you here for? It’s finished.”

He then ignored more questions and rolled up the window of his car before waving our reporter away.

After our reporter left on foot, Shum slowly followed him in his car down the road and eventually into a different estate but pulled in after our reporter turned around and stopped after spotting him.

Shum then bizarrely pulled into someone else’s driveway apparently to try and avoid being seen.

Shortly after our reporter continued on and turned a corner Shum resumed following him but failed to notice when our man passed him after getting into a vehicle.

Shum then came back out of the nearby estate looking around again for our reporter.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court earlier this month that the accused and victim were at work in the kitchen on January 30 this year when a dispute arose over the victim’s role.”

“Emotions got heated” and insults were exchanged. It escalated, Shum grabbed the victim aggressively by the arms and a tussle broke out between them. The victim received “numerous slaps” to his face, causing minor injury.​

The DPP consented to the case being dealt with at district court level.​

Shum’s lawyer told Judge McHugh that his client was extremely regretful and would not come before the court again.